Did you pick the .38 for your SO or did she?
Glad to hear the Ft Collins/Loveland area seems to be OC friendly. Don't try it in the Denver area. Legal, but a guaranteed MWAG LEO response (and if you are in the City/County of Denver proper, you will be charged).
Bold and underlined...Loose that mindset now. One carries a firearm for DEFENSIVE reasons, and you shoot to STOP the threat, nothing more. There are fatal side effects to stopping the threat that occasionally happens, but that is not the intention. Stop the threat only.
Register with another forum that focuses on defensive carry/concealed carry. More activity on the subject, more info to glean.
At this time, no gun postings do not carry the weight of law in Colorado (as far as state statutes go - have not encountered a local ordinance that does). If you are caught, and asked to leave, you must or be charged with trespassing.